Vehicle-top support.



C. R. ALLEN.

VEHICLE TOP suPPonT.

APPLICATION FILED DEC.2. l9l3.

L2445402. Y Patented ont. 23, um.

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.emula rre.

enemiesv n. ALLEN, or AsHTeB'ULA, onroassrGNon To THE ASHTABULA rowysocxur COMPANY, or esaminare, OHIO, A. CORPORATION .or OHIO.

VEHICLE-TOP SUPPORT.

Specification of 2|..ettersA Patent. y Patanjed Get. 23, i917.

Application ledlecember 2, 1913. Serial No. 804,158.

the principle of the invention being herein explained and the best modein which I `have contemplated applying that principle, so as todistinguish it from other inventions.

My invention relates to an improved vehicle top which may be readilyoperated by a single personiand which is an improvement` over existingtypes of tops in that all bows which tend tO obstruct the entrance tothe forward compartment are entirely eliminated without, however,affecting the rigidity of the support for the top itself. To theaccomplishment of these and related ends, said invention, then, consistsofthe means hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed outinthe claims.

The annexeddrawings and theffollowing description set forthi in v detailcertain mechanism embodying the invention, such disclosed meansconstituting, however, but one of various mechanical forms in which theprinciple of the invention may be used.

In said annexed drawings Figure 1 is aside elevation showing my improvedltop in its raised position; Fig. 2 is a similar view,vbut showing thetop when folded; yand Fig. 3 isa transverse section on the line 3 3 inFig. 1. l

MyV improved top is intended fork nu- `merous 'uses which need not bespecifically f referred to and the fact that we here illustrateit asVapplied to a vehicle body such as an automobile isnot intended V`toimply l a restriction `to its use in such connection nected Aby meansofastop hinge 7 such hinge. serving j tomaintain the two portions inalinementwhenthe bowis extended.

The .precise point of attachment of the auxiliary member @l to the rearmember, or

main bow 3, is unimportant and will depend to a large extent upon theheight of the :top and other features of' construction which Ywill bepeculiar to the vehicle upon which the top is to be used.

Pivotally attached to the stop hinge 7 is an'arm or shifter link 8 whichis adapted to be received in a supporting lug 9 mounted upon one side ofthe outer portion 6 of the auxiliary member 4; in the position toVmaintain the shifter link 8 parallel with the outer portion 6 of theauxiliary bow d. Tothe outer or free end of-'such link 8 I pivotallyattach an Outrigger bow socket member 10 :which has its engaged end l1offset in order to bring the bow 10 into the same plane as the other bowsocketvmembers, such outrigger extending substantially horizontallyand-forward and receiving the forward end of the top covering l2 whichis supported upon the upper ends of the other bow socket members asillustrated. The arms or links 8, ytaken in conjunction with the bow10may be regarded as constituting an articulatedOutrigger bow.

In the raised position of the top ythe various members will be in thepositions shown in Figl vwhen' suitable means, preferably in the form ofcords'lB, will be. supplied for LSimilarly, the weight supported by thevOuter endof the auxiliarymember 4 serves to'maintain ythe two portions5 and 6 of this member in their'alined position.

Inv order tofoldthe top it is necessary to disconnect the forward end ofthe outrigger l() fromthe vehicle and to thenl swing -the shifter link Sinto a position valongside of the inner portion of the auxiliary member4f.' `The two portions of the latter .member are then moved downwarduntil in' a paralf lelvposition, all of the bows'being disposed parallelto the rear bows, and the inner part 5 lof the auxiliary member et beingreceived in asuitable spacing lug 14 attached to the front side ofthem'ain bow 3. In order to maintain the link 8 and rOutrigger l() 1nproper position when the top" is in its folded position, I supplySuitable means for attaching the same to the body, suoli means prei'-erably consisting of a lug l5 on the bow 3 to whichl the linlr 8 may befastened by a suitable bolt or pin (not shown). Other ineans for soattaching the linlr S may of course be used. The compact arrangement ofthe bows when folded is shown in Fig. 2.

rEhe present top may be folded by a single person in the mannerdescribed. The advantages of this type oi top are too well recognized toreduire specific enumeration, but attention ,is directed to theextremely simple means designed for the purpose and to the compactarrangement of the bows when the top isk folded.

lt is unnecessary to speelde-ally point out that the socalled main7 bowmay beV attached either to the body as illustrated or to one of the rearbows, as in either case its functions as a support for the auxiliary andOutrigger' bows will be the same.

Other modes oi' applying the principle of my intention may be employedinstead of the one explained, change being made as regards the mechanismherein disclosed, provided the means stated by the following claim orthe equivalent of such stated means be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as myinvention:-

l. ln a Vehicle top, thel combination of a mainv bow directly piyotallyattached to the vehicle body; an auxiliary bow; and an articulatedOutrigger' bow, one of said two lastnamed bows being piyotally attachedto said main bow near the lower edge of the top covering and the otherbeing pivotally attached in turn to said one, the portions of saidOutrigger bow being adapted to form an upwardly extending elbow and saidOutrigger and auxiliary bows being adapted to interengage in theextended condition of the top so as to prevent upward breaking of suchelbow.

2. ln a vehicle ton. the combination of a main bow directly pivotallyattached to the vehicle body; an auxiliary bow; an outrigger bow; and anarm piyotally attached to the inner end of said Outrigger bow, saidauxiliary bow and said arm being pivotally connected together and theone thereof being in turn pivotally attached to saidV main bow near thelower edge of the top covering, said Outrigger bow and TD1 being adaptedto forni an upwardly extending elbow and said arm being adapted toengage said auxiliary vbow in the extended conditionV of the top so asto prevent upward breaking oi" such elbow.

3., In a vehicle top, the combination of a main bow suitably attached tothe vehicle body; an articulated auxiliary bow; and an articulatedoutrigger bow, one of said two last-named bows being pivotallyattachedto naiafioa said main bow land the other being pivotally attached inturnto saidone, the portions of said Outrigger bow jbeing adapted toform an upwardly extending elbow, and said outrigger and. auxiliary bowsbeing adapted to inter-engage in the extended condition of the top so asto prevent upward nected together and the one thereoi3 being in turnpirotally attached to said inainpbow,

`said Outrigger bow and arm ,being adapted to form an up Yardlyextending elbow and said arm being adapted to engage said auxiliary bowin thev extended condition of the top so as to prevent upward breakingo't such elbow.

5.V ln a vehicle top, the combination cfa main bow directly pivotallyattached tov the vehicle body; an auxiliary bow; and an articulatedOutrigger bow, said auxiliary bow being piyotally attached to said mainbow near the loweredge of the top. covering, and said Outrigger bowbeing pivotaliy attached in turn tof said auxiliary bow, the portions ofsaid Outrigger bow 'being adapted to form an upwardly extending elbow,and said Outrigger and auxiliary bows being adapted to inter-engage inthe 'extended condition of the top so `as to prevent up-y ward breakingotsuch elbow. Y

6. In a Trehicle top; the combination of a main bow directly pivotallyattached to the vehicle body; an, auxiliary bow; an outrigger bow; andan arm pivotally attached to the inner end of said outvrigger bow, saidauxiliary bow being piyotally attached to said 'ina-in bow near thelower edge of the top covering, and said Varm being lin turn pivota'llyattachedto said auxiliary bow, said outrigger bow and arm being adaptedto form an upwardly extending elbow; and said arin being adapted toengage said auxiliary bow in the extended condition Voi thev topso as toprevent upward bre-,airing of such elbow. Y

7. En a Vehicle tor, tbeaombinatonof a main bow suitably attached to thevehicle body; an articulated auxiliary bow having. a stop joint betweenits respective portions; and an articulated Qutrgger bow, the'nner endof said auxiliary bowrbeing piyotally attached to said main bow, andtheinner end of said outrigger bow being pit/totally attached in turn tosaid auxiliary bow at the jointA therein, the, portions of saidoutrigger bow beingv adapted to forni upwardly extending elbow, and saidoutrigger ,auxiliary bows being adapted. to int@- bow and said arms,

engage in the extended condition of the top so as to prevent upwardbreaking of such elbow.

8. In a vehicle top, the combination of a main bow pivotally attached tothe body of the vehicle; an out-rigger bow; an auxiliary, forwardlyextending bow disposed intermediately of said main and out-rigger bowsand connected to said main bow near the lower edge of the top covering,and arms pivotally connected to said out-rigger and auxiliary bows andadapted to provide in the raised condition of the top two spaced pointsof engagement between said auxiliary' the latter cooperating with saidbows to form a rigid but oldable truss normally maintained in rigidposition by the tension along the top.

9. In a vehicle top, the combination of a main bow pivotally attached tothe body of the vehicle, an auxiliary, forwardly extending bow formed oftwo hinged portions,

said bow being pivotally attached to said main bow intermediate the endsof the lat-- ter, a shifter link pivotally attached to the hinge betweenthe two portions of said auxiliary bow, an out-rigger bow pivotallyattached to the outer end of said link, and a supporting lug mounted onsaid auxiliary bow and adapted to receive said shifter link in positionto maintain the same parallel to said auxiliary bow, said link and bowsbeing constructed and positioned so that the rearward, longitudinalthrust on said outrigger bow will serve to maintain such two portions ofsaid auxiliary bow in alineinent and said shifter link parallel thereto.

CHARLES R. ALLEN.

Attested by#- FRANK W. WAGNER, RUDOLF H. PFAFF.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patentt, Washington, D. G.

Signed by me, this 28 day of November,

